in fest
aphid crawl against my wrist
first time my cousins
have felt like my cousins
we want the funeral to be a celebration
of life
slip hand below rusty shawl
on waist are you doing okay
yes you?
wandering piano chords that night
for lotion for trying to girl
for afterlife for beforelife
for black with a pop of color
for knowing just enough
cheers
with this buggy sparkling juice
2 thoughts on "in fest"
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This is so good, River! Don’t know if your cousins are the aphids or your real-life cousins — and I am happy to keep wondering. Ending the with “buggy sparking juice” leave with a great last image.
I love the space between “yes” and “you?” and the weird discontinuity/awkward vibe of a visitation (?) or some funereal family gathering, and the last two lines’ dark humor.